Filling stop motion for textile weaving machines



May 4, 1954 J. IMPROTO 2,677,396

FILLING STOP MOTION FOR TEXTILE WEAVING MACHINES Filed July 27, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l ,/0 Joseph /mprofo l BY @M INVENTOR.

May 4, 1954 J. lMPRoTo 2,677,396

FILLING STOP MOTION FOR TEXTILE WEAVING MACHINES Filed July 27, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5

Josep/1 /mprofo A INVENTOR.

BY gm., 15mm J. IMPROTO May 4, 1954 FILLING STOP MOTION FOR TEXTILE WEAVING MACHINES Filed July 27, 1951 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fig. 7

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Joseph /mpmfo IN V EN TOR.

BY WWW 19mm Patented May 4, 1954 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE FILLING STOP MOTION FOR TEXTILE WEAVING MACH-INES 7 Claims.

The invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a lling stop motion for textile weaving machines and specifically pertains to a stop motion attachment for looms whereby the customary feeler units for detecting the exhausting of the filling. thread of the shuttle spools may be moved in synchronization with the motions of the box rod of the looms to at all times main.- tain the detector units in proper position for their detecting operation upon the spools of the loom shuttles.

The primary object of this invention is to provide` a lling stop. motion device for looms which may be readily applied to conventional looms of the single box or multiple box type.

It is the prime object of this invention to provide an attachment which may be applied to conventional looms such as the well-known Crompton-Knowles looms whereby the filling leelers or detectors of the loom may be adjusted vertically in synchronization with Athe vertical adjustment of the boxes of the loom.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an attachment as set forth in the preceding object in which the entire filling detector means may be adjusted in synchronization with the movements of the loom boxes and by means or a connection with the box rod of the loom.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an attachment in conformity with the preceding objects in which the individual feeler units may be independently adjusted upony their supporting bracket without interfering with the simultaneous adjustment of the entire unit in the manner aforesaid.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide an attachment which may be readily and simply applied to a conventional loom and in which the attachment is operatively connected with the box rod of the loom in a novel and improved manner.

A still further important object of the invention is to provide an attachment as set forth hereinbefore, in which provision is made for selectvely rendering any of the feeler units operative to stop the motion of the loom when the selected feeler unit detects a substantial exhaustion of the iilling thread from the shuttle spool of the selected unit.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a further embodiment of which has been illus- 2 trated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective View of one embodiment of the stop motion device in accordance with the principles ofl this invention, the device being shown applied to a conventional loom, a part of the frame of the loom being indicated in dotted lines therein;

Figure 2 is an elevational view, parts being broken away and shown in section, of a part of the attachment in accordance with the invention;

Figure 3 is a horizontal section view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 3 3 of Figure 2, and yshowing in conj unction with Figure 2 more clearly the manner in which the attachment isV operatively connected to the box rod of the loom;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of a vertical tubular standard forming a part of the attachment;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of a vertically reciprocating member forming a Part of the attachment;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of clamping body by means of which the attachment is operatively connected to the box rod of the loom; 4

Figure 7 is a top plan view, parts being shown in horizontal section, of the uppermost of the feeler units of the filling detector means;

Figure 8 is a fragmentary side elevational view, parts being shown in section, of the filling detector means;

Figure 9 is an end elevational view taken from the right of Figure 8;

Figure 10 is a horizontal sectional view through one of the support bases of a feeler unit, taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line iiii0 of Figure ll;

Figure ll is a transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line H-Il of Figure l0; and,

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic View sho-wing the electrical circuit of the iilling detectorl means in accordance with this invention.

Reference is made more particularly vto the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views. Referring rst to Figure l, it will be seen that the numeral `lli designates a portion of the frame of the loom which may be of any conventional and known design such as the Crompton- Knowles loom. :Such a loom is provided with the customary multiple box end indicated by the numeral 1.2 and which as illustrated maybe of a four box type, this box construction being secured as by a fastening bolt I4 at one end thereof upon the usual loom lay, not shown, whereby the box assembly will be subjected to the arcuate beat motion of the loom. A vertical motion is imparted to the boxes under the influence of the conventional box rod I6. Also illustrated in Figure 1 is a picker stick I8 by means of which the shuttles, not shown, are picked or hurled from the shuttle boxes at one end of the loom to those at the other side thereof.

During the operation of multiple box looms it is well known that the box mechanism I 2 is vertically adjusted by the box rod I6 to position a selected shuttle box with its shuttle having the weft or filling thread spool positioned for picking by the picker stick I8.

It has been heretofore well known and common practice to provide electrically actuated feeler units which during the operation of the looms will upon each sweep of the lay thereof enter the openings of the shuttle boxes and place a pair of electrical contact members upon the shuttle spool. If there is ample lling thread upon the spool, no electrical circuit is established between the contacts, and the operation of the loom continues uninterrupted.

1f however the thread is substantially exhausted, the contact members of the feeler unit engage a metal ferrule upon the spool of the shuttle establishing electrical contact and through well understood associated mechanism cause stoppage of the loom.

In mechanisms of the character above set forth, numerous diiculties have arisen. The stationarily mounted feeling units frequently fail to register properly and accurately with the openings of the shuttle boxes since the latter are subject to two types of pivoting or oscillatory motion and effects of wear render still more difficult the exact registration necessary for proper functioning.

Moreover, the failure of the feeler unit to register and remain in perfect register with the opening in the shuttle box frequently results in damage to the feeler unit.

Still further, the above mentioned mechanisms have frequently caused stoppage of a loom when one of the feeler units engages an exhausted shuttle spool in a box which is not being currently operated.

It is the primary purpose and intent of the present invention to provide an attachment which shall be capable of overcoming all of the above mentioned objections in a satisfactory manner.

The attachment itself, in accordance with this invention, comprises a standard which is preferably in the form of a vertically disposed tubular rod. The rod is detachably secured as by mounting brackets 22 to the frame I8 of the loom. If desired, the lower end of this rod may be disposed above the surface upon which the framework Ill of the loom is mounted, and is supported entirely by the framework of the loom; but alternatively the lower end of the standard may be rested upon and secured to the supporting base for the loom.

As shown more clearly in Figures 2 and 4, the tubular standard 2B is provided with an elongated slot 24 which extends diametrically through the standard and extends longitudinally or vertically thereof. Vertical slidable within the standard 20 is a member 26, see Figures 2 and 5, which is provided with a diametrically disposed bore 2B. The standard 20 thus constitutes a guide for the vertically reciprocably member 26 and the latter at its upper end has adjustably mounted thereon a lling detector means for the loom boxes, and is operatively connected to the box rod I6 whereby the member 26 will reciprocate vertically in synchronized relationship and thus cause the feeler units carried thereby to likewise reciprocate vertically with the synchronization with the boxes as the latter are vertically adjusted by the box rod I6.

This connected means, as shown in Figures 1 and 6, consists of a body member 3D of any conventional material, and which is apertured or bored as at 32 to be slidably received upon the box rod I6. A suitable adjusting screw 34 is provided whereby the body 30 may be clamped on the box rod. The bore 32 may be considered to be vertically disposed and is vertically slidable upon the box rod I6, and is arcuately movable therewith.

The body 30 is further provided with a laterally extending bore 36, which as shown in Figures l, 2 and 3 is adapted to slidably receive one end of a laterally disposed actuating pin 38 'l which is releasably retained in the bore 36 as by a further set screw 40. The pin 38 is provided with a reduced terminal portion 42 which is laterally slidably received within the bore 28 of the member 26, and extends through the slots 24 i and is vertically reciprocable therein. It will thus be apparent that upon vertical movement of the box rod I6, that the actuating pin 38 will cause a corresponding vertical reciprocation of the member 26 in the standard 20. It should be particularly noted that in the arcuate movement of the box rod towards and from the standard 26, will result in a relative vertical movement of the box assembly I2 with respect to the standard and of the filling detector means mounted thereon. However, by this attachment, the corresponding vertical movement is imparted to the lling detector means to maintain the feeler units of the same in perfect register with the boxes of the box unit during such movement. Thus,

` at all times, each of the feeler units to be hereinafter more fully described, has maintained in perfect synchronized registering relationship with the corresponding box of the box unit I2.

Referring now more specifically to Figures 1, 7 9, it will be seen that the front end of the member 26 is provided with a clamp or bracket 44 detachably mounted thereon as by fastening bolt 45 whereby the same may be adjusted vertically upon the member 22. Upon its outer end, the clamp 44 is provided with a horizontally disposed arm 48 and extending through an aperture in this arm and retained thereon as by locking nuts 50 is a screw threaded support rod 52. A plurality of feeler units are adjustably mounted upon this rod. These units are of identical construction, and as clearly shown in Figures 10 and ll, each consists of a body or plate of dielectric material, indicated by the numeral 54, each plate being provided with aperture 56 for the reception of the support rod 52. Each plate is retained in vertically adjusted position on this support rod as by a pair of adjusting nuts 58. It will thus be apparent that each of the support plates 54 may be independently adjusted vertically upon the support rod 52; that the rod itself may be vertically adjusted within the clamp bracket 44; that the latter in turn may be vertically adjusted upon the member 26.

Each feeler unit in addition to the support plate 54, further comprises a pair of laterally extending electrical contacts 58 and 6D which extend laterally through the base 54 and to one side of the same as shown in the drawings.

As shown in Figure 7, the two contacts 58 and 6c have been provided with large terminal portions G2 and 5s respectively. It will be apparent that the contacts are insulated from each other by the rigid mounting in the dielectric body members 5i, now normally disposed in parallel relation so that the terminals c2 and 6d are spaced from each other' as shown in Figure 7.

There are thus provided a plurality of feeler units, one such unit being provided for each of the boxes of the box assembly l2, and in accordance with conventional practice, the terminals 62 and 64 are adapted to extend to the box openings and be pressed against the :filler thread spool a portion of which is shown in 65 and the filler thread or weit thread which is wound thereon.

In accordance with conventional practice, this spool is provided with a metallic ferrule 68 thereabout so that when the thread is exhausted, the detector terminals are pressed against the metal plate or ferrule S8 and thus establish an electrical contact between the terminals till and Si), as set forth hereinafter.

This construction is generally conventionaLbut is mounted and supported in a novel manner in accordance with this invention for synchronized movement with the box assembly.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 10, it will be seen that the feeler terminals 58 and 88 are provided with binding nuts 7S and 'l2 respectively. The nut 'i2 is connected as by a conductor lil with the support rod 52 whereby the terminal E@ is grounded in a conventional manner to the frame of the loom. The terminal 58 however through its binding nut 'le is provided with a laterally extending contact 18 which extends laterally from the support plates 54.

A stationary contact for supplying electric current to the filling detector means is provided. This stationary switch includes a resilient metallic electric conductor 18 which is mounted upon a clamping bracket Se secured as by a nut bolt assembly 82 to the standard 20 adjacent its upper end. At its upper portion, the conductor is is provided with a laterally offset resilient linger 8B which is disposed in the path of travel of the plurality of laterally extending contact terminals It of each of the support plates 54. As these plates are vertically adjusted, each individual contact l may be selectively engaged by the laterally offset nger 8A as shown clearly in Figures 8 and 12. Thus one and only one of the contacts le, and consequently only one of the feeler units will be electrically connected to the stationary contact 78. The latter, by a conductor 86, is connected to a suitable source of electric current such as indicated in Figure 12, while a solenoid switch 88 is grounded to the frame of the loom as at es, and is connected by a conductor 92 to the above mentioned source of electric current. The arrangement is such that when a master switch 94 has been closed, the switch member 84 will engage one of the contact members llt, and thereby energize the selected feeler unit. This unit, when the terminal l52 and 64 thereof engage the ferrule 68 of an exhausted ller spool will of course through the solenoid 88 cause cessation of the operation of the loom, as for example by throwing the operating handle of the loom; cutting off the supply power and the like.

It should be particularly noted that the ringer 84' of the switch 18 is so placed that when lthe shuttlebox assembly I2` is adjusted bythe box! will be rendered inoperative. By this arrange-y ment the possible stopping of the loom by the exhausting vof the spool in one of the idle shuttles is prevented.

It willbe observed that this invention may be quickly applied to or removed from a loom with a minimum of expenditure of time and labor; yet when applied is capable of many and very accurate adjustments to enable the device to be effective for accurately causing registration of the feeler units with the shuttle-boxes.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However', since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled inthe art after a consideration of the foregoing specication and accompanying drawings, it-is not dei sired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, but all suitable modi-- cations and equivalents may be resorted to, fall`- ing within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what isI claimed as new is:

1. A lling stop motion for looms of the type including shuttle boxes and a shuttle box rod for vertically adjusting said boxes together with shuttles having lling spools therein, said stop motion comprising a vertical standard, a member vertically slidably mounted upon said standard, connecting means engaged with said member and engageable with a loom box rod for vertically reciprocating said member in synchronization with vertical movement of said loom box rod, lling detector means carried by said member for engaging the filling spools of a loom, means actuated by said last means for stopping operation of a loom when a spool that in operation is substantially exhausted of its filling thread, said connecting means comprising a body adapted to be xedly secured to said loom box rod, a pin projecting laterally from said body and operatively engaging said member.

2. A lling stop motion for looms of the type including shuttle boxes and a shuttle box rod for vertically adjusting said boxes together with shuttles having filling spools therein, said stop motion comprising a vertical standard, a member vertically slidably mounted upon said standard, connecting means engaged with said member and engageable with a loom box rod for vertically reciprocating said member in synchronization with vertical movement of said loom box rod, filling detector means carried by said member for engaging the lling spools of a loom, means actuated by said last means for stopping operation of a loom when a spool that in operation is substantially exhausted of its nlling thread, said connecting means comprising a body adapted to be xedly secured to said loom box rod, a pin projecting laterally from said body and operatively engaging said member, said member having an aperture receiving said pin.

3. A filling stop motion for looms of the type including shuttle boxes and a shuttle box rod for vertically adjusting said boxes together with shuttles having lling spools therein, said stop motion comprising a vertical standard, a member vertically slidably mounted upon said standard, connecting means engaged with said member and engageable with a loom box rod for vertically reciprocating said member in synchronization With vertical movement of said loom box rod, iilling detector means carried by said member for engaging the iilling spools of a loom, means actuated by said last means for stopping operation of a loom when a spool that in operation is substantially exhausted of its lling thread, said connecting means comprising a body adapted to be fxedly secured to said loom box rod, a pin projecting laterally from said body and operatively engaging said member, said member having an aperture receiving said pin, said standard being tubular and having a slot in its side, said member being slidable in said standard, said pin extending slidably through said slot.

4. A filling stop motion for looms of the type including shuttle boxes and a shuttle box rod for vertically adjusting said boxes together with shuttles having filling spools therein, said stop motion comprising a vertical standard, a member vertically slidably mounted upon said standard, connecting means engaged with said member and engageable with a loom box rod for vertically reciprocating said member in synchronization with vertical movement of said loom box rod, lling detector means carried by said member for engaging the filling spools of a loom, means actuated by said last means for stopping operation of a loom when a spool that is in operation is substantially exhausted of its lling thread, said lling detector means including a support, detector units on said support, a bracket adjustably securing said support to said member.

5. The combination of claim 4 including a support base for each unit, means for adjusting said bases individually upon said support.

6. The combination of claim 4 including a support base for each unit, means for adjusting said bases individually upon said support, a stationary electric contact for supplying current to said lling detector means, a movable contact on each unit engageable with said stationary contact.

7. The combination of claim 4 including a support base for each unit, means for adjusting said bases individually upon said support, a stationary electric contact for supplying current to said lling detector means, a movable contact on each unit engageable with said stationary contact, said stationary contact being mounted on said standard.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,485,134 Bergstrom et al Oct. 18, 1949 2,486,009 Dion Oct. 25, 1949 

